Eastern Phoebe Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesEastern Phoebe
Adult
Plump songbird with a large head that often looks peaked. Grayish brown above with a darker head and whitish below.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 05, 2019Adult
Plump songbird with a large head that often looks peaked and a medium length squared tail. Grayish brown above and whitish below.
© Doug Hitchcox / Macaulay LibraryMaine, November 10, 2018Dark-headed flycatcher without distinct wingbars. Habitually pumps tail when perched.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 17, 2008Not all videos have sound
Juvenile
Juveniles are similar to adults, but have variable reddish-brown wingbars and a paler head.
© Jonathan Eckerson / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, July 10, 2016Adult
Plump songbird that often has a peaked head. Grayish brown above and whitish below with a smudgy breast.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 20, 2018Adult
Frequently wags tail down and up when perched.
© Bryan Calk / Macaulay LibraryTexas, October 25, 2020Adult
Found in open woods such as yards, parks, woodlands, and woodland edges.
© Takayuki Uchida / Macaulay LibraryOhio, April 01, 2017Adult
Build nests in niches or under overhangs, where the young will be protected from the elements.
© Richard Gray / Macaulay LibraryNorth Carolina, May 07, 2016Similar SpeciesWillow Flycatcher
Adult/immature
Willow Flycatchers have prominent wingbars and have a grayish head, whereas Eastern Phoebes lack wingbars and have a dark brown head.
© Michiel Oversteegen / Macaulay LibraryAruba, October 16, 2016Similar SpeciesEastern Wood-Pewee
Adult/immature
Eastern Wood-Pewees tend to perch much higher in trees and rarely wag their tails as Eastern Phoebes do. Wood-pewees have stronger wingbars than Eastern Phoebes.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryOrange Walk, May 11, 2017Similar SpeciesBlack Phoebe
Adult (Northern)
Black Phoebes have a blackish head and breast and Eastern Phoebes have a gray head and whitish breast.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 01, 2010Similar SpeciesSay's Phoebe
Adult/immature
Say's Phoebes have a peachy belly and gray throat while Eastern Phoebes have a white belly and whitish throat.
© Daniel Irons / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, November 10, 2016Similar SpeciesDark-eyed Junco
Adult (Slate-colored)
Dark-eyed Juncos have stubby, seed-eating bills and Eastern Phoebes have thin insect-catching bills. Juncos forage on or near the ground in a horizontal posture while phoebes perch upright on branches of trees and shrubs.
© Scott Martin / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, February 03, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Tyrant Flycatchers(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Tyrannidae)
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